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The significant correlation between school board member training and effective school governance

Running head: SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TRAINING 1
THE SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
TRAINING AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE
by
Rebecca Bishai Gogel
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
May 2013
Copyright 2013 Rebecca Bishai Gogel

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship existed between effective school boards and a commitment to seek out school board training. Three research questions were investigated: (a) what factors impacted the decision of school board members to complete a school board training program; (b) whether the Masters in Governance (MIG) program encouraged and equipped school board members to exhibit the behaviors of effective governance (primary focus of study); and (c) in what ways mandating the MIG program could impact school board governance, including any unintended consequences. The sample population focused on school board members in six southern California counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura); 226 school board members and 100 superintendents were surveyed. Of those surveyed the researcher identified two matching pairs of board members and superintendents for interviews. The primary rationale cited for participation in professional development was self-motivation (i.e., desire to improve oneself). Participation in some form of professional development—and in the case of this study, the MIG training program administered by the California School Board Association—had a significant impact on the effective governance practices of school board members. The majority agreed that mandated training was a positive option. Training helped board members understand their roles and responsibilities and differentiate between policymaking and management. Quality school governance and student achievement are dependent on the commitment that school board members make to professional growth.

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Running head: SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TRAINING 1
THE SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
TRAINING AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE
by
Rebecca Bishai Gogel
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
May 2013
Copyright 2013 Rebecca Bishai Gogel